Trump to sign order loosening regulations on fossil fuels

President Trump will sign an executive order aimed at rolling back energy and environmental regulations, including the Clean Power Plan, on Tuesday, officials have confirmed.

He complained some people seemed to think that if "you're pro-growth, pro-jobs, you're anti-environment".

In an interview with ABC News, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) chief Scott Pruitt said President Trump's "pro growth and pro environment" order will bring back manufacturing jobs and reduce the cost of electricity.

When pressed on whether the new executive order would face court challenges, Pruitt said he isn't anxious about potential legal ramifications. But it has been on hold since a year ago while a federal court deliberates on appeals made by coal-friendly Republican-led states and more than 100 companies.

Trump's action comes as the Clean Power Plan rule has been on hold since previous year while a federal appeals court considers a challenge by coal-friendly Republican-governed states and more than 100 companies.

Supporters of the Obama-era plan say it would spur thousands of clean-energy jobs.

"This Clean Power Plan is something that the Supreme Court, as you know, has said is likely unlawful", he said. The order will compel federal agencies to quickly identify any actions that could burden the production or use of domestic energy resources, including nuclear power, and then work to suspend, revise or rescind the policies unless they are legally mandated, are necessary for the public interest or promote development.

Pruitt, however, argues the order is not bound to the global agreement.

Trump's order-along with his promise to reverse rules about vehicle emissions-would make it impossible for the United States to reach its commitments under the 2015 Paris climate agreement. "The CPP is not tethered to the Paris accords. So Paris was just a bad deal, in my estimation", he said.

"So we've penalized ourselves through lost jobs while China and India didn't take steps to address the issue internationally".

The EPA administrator said that he will focus on "getting things right here domestically and making sure we operate within the framework of the Clean Air Act".

He called Obama's emissions rules "counter-helpful to the environment".